Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan hospitalised, participation in doubt for quarter-final against Karnataka

Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign has been dealt a significant blow after star batter Sarfaraz Khan's hospitalisation due to a viral fever, casting serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming quarterfinal against Karnataka. The high-stakes encounter is scheduled to begin on Friday, January 6, at the MCA Ground in Bandra Kurla Complex.

Sarfaraz, who has been in outstanding form this season, was unable to take the field during Mumbai’s previous match against Delhi, with his condition worsening over the past few days. According to reports, the seasoned cricketer is currently unwell and under medical supervision, and it remains uncertain whether he will recover in time to feature in the all-important clash against the Devdutt Padikkal-led side.

"Sarfaraz has viral fever and has been hospitalized. He is unwell and thats why he couldn't come out to field also in Mumbai's last match against Delhi. At the moment, its unclear if Sarfaraz will recover in time for the Karnataka match,” a source was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

His absence would be a massive setback for Mumbai, given the crucial role he has played throughout the tournament. Sarfaraz carried his red-hot form from white-ball cricket into the second phase of the Ranji Trophy, anchoring the batting lineup with a series of commanding performances. During the league stage, he produced one of the standout knocks of the season, smashing a monumental 227 off 219 balls against Hyderabad. That innings not only underlined his dominance at the domestic level but also marked the milestone of completing 5,000 runs in first-class cricket.

The 28-year-old had earlier shown signs of physical discomfort as well. Troubled by a hamstring issue, Sarfaraz managed a laboured 27-ball 24 in the first innings against Delhi before missing out on further participation in the match. With both fitness and illness now working against him, Mumbai’s team management faces a tense wait ahead of the quarterfinal.

Despite his health concerns, Sarfaraz was seen with the Mumbai squad earlier in the week when legendary Sachin Tendulkar addressed the team during a special interaction, offering words of encouragement ahead of the business end of the tournament.

Mumbai will be hoping for a swift recovery, knowing that Karnataka pose a formidable challenge in the knockout stage. If Sarfaraz is ruled out, the responsibility will fall heavily on the rest of the batting unit to compensate for the absence of one of domestic cricket’s most prolific run-scorers.

A final call on Sarfaraz Khan’s availability is expected closer to the start of the match.